The entire auction hall fell into dead silence.
Xuan Zi took a large gulp of wine to suppress the irritation in his throat, his gloomy gaze fixed on the adjacent wall, as if he could see straight through the specially crafted glass to that detestable old face on the other side.
He wasn't stupid. The moment that voice rang out, he knew exactly who it was.
That damned Jing Hongchen!
"That bastard…"
Xuan Zi cursed under his breath, his grip tightening on the wine gourd until it creaked softly.
He knew Jing Hongchen's intentions all too well.
As the continent's top Ninth-Rank Soul Engineer, who would believe Jing Hongchen didn't already have countless high-quality spirit tools? This kind of Rank 4 junk—forget Jing Hongchen, even the inner court kids he brought along wouldn't spare it a second glance.
So why jump in to bid now?
There was only one reason: to deliberately disgust him.
"Elder Xuan, maybe… we should just let it go."
Bei Bei, sharp-eyed as always, leaned over and whispered when he saw Xuan Zi's ugly expression.
"The price is already pretty high, and… they are from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."
"Let it go?"
Xuan Zi's stubborn temper flared instantly, his beard bristling.
"Why should I let it go? I brought you all out to relax today. If I let that old thing suppress me right from the start, where would my dignity go?"
"Besides," he snorted coldly, "as a dignified Level Ninety-Eight Super Douluo, do you think I'm short on a bit of money?"
With that, Xuan Zi directly raised the bidding paddle in his hand, his voice booming through the hall like a bell:
"Five thousand gold coins!"
The moment the price was announced, the auction hall erupted into murmurs.
Five thousand gold coins for three Rank 4 spirit tools was blatant overpaying. Many bidders who had hoped to get a bargain shook their heads and withdrew.
But almost the instant Xuan Zi finished speaking, the lazy voice from next door rang out again, without the slightest change in tone:
"Six thousand."
Just two light words—yet they felt like a solid slap to Xuan Zi's face.
"You—!"
Xuan Zi was so furious that the veins on his forehead bulged. This old thing just wouldn't quit!
"Seven thousand!"
He practically ground his teeth as he shouted the number.
"Eight thousand."
Jing Hongchen's voice remained calm and relaxed, even carrying a faint trace of amusement, as if eight thousand gold coins were nothing more than spare change.
"Nine thousand!!!"
Xuan Zi's voice was already distorted with anger. A trace of the terrifying pressure belonging to a Super Douluo leaked out uncontrollably, causing the air inside the booth to grow heavy.
The Shrek members fell silent, not even daring to breathe loudly.
"Elder Xuan, calm down!"
Dai Yueheng was sweating anxiously as he tried to stop him.
"Nine thousand gold coins for this is a massive loss! This is obviously a trap. Let him have it—let him be the sucker!"
"Yes, Elder Xuan, don't act on impulse," Ma Xiaotao added quickly.
Hearing everyone's persuasion, the rage clouding Xuan Zi's mind finally eased a little.
He took a deep breath.
They were right.
If Jing Hongchen wanted it so badly, then let him have it! Spending eight thousand gold coins on this kind of trash—Xuan Zi would laugh himself to death!
Just as he was about to put down the bidding paddle and wait to watch Jing Hongchen make a fool of himself—
The adjacent booth suddenly fell into a deathly silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds…
The auctioneer's sweet voice rang out at just the right moment:
"Nine thousand gold coins, once! Are there any higher bids?"
Xuan Zi froze.
The Shrek members froze as well.
What was going on?
Hadn't they been bidding aggressively just now? Why did they suddenly stop?
Inside the neighboring booth, Jing Hongchen leisurely took a sip of fragrant tea, winked at Liu Yuan, and smiled.
"This old fellow's temper is still so impulsive," he said calmly.
"Since he likes being taken advantage of so much, let's just fulfill his wish."
Liu Yuan couldn't help giving a thumbs-up.
"The Hall Master is brilliant."
"Nine thousand gold coins, twice!"
"Nine thousand gold coins, three times—sold!"
Bang!
As the auction hammer struck, Xuan Zi's face instantly turned the color of pig liver.
He had been played—again.
Nine thousand gold coins!
How could this junk possibly be worth that price?
Even if he was a Super Douluo with deep reserves, that money didn't grow on trees!
"Cough… cough…"
Noticing the strange looks from the Shrek students around him, Xuan Zi's old face flushed red. He forced himself to look calm, waving his hand dismissively.
"It's nothing. Just a bit of pocket change."
"As long as Caitou likes it, what's a little extra money?"
He even puffed out his chest, putting on an air of effortless wealth.
But inside, Xuan Zi was bleeding profusely.
…
The atmosphere of the subsequent auction became strangely oppressive.
Since this was an auction hosted by the Star Luo Empire, many of the early items were spirit tools meant to cater to the local market.
The Sun Moon team had no interest whatsoever.
In their eyes, the Star Luo Empire's spirit-tool craftsmanship was like that of an unweaned child—crude, simplistic, and completely lacking in refinement.
Even the so-called "fine products" were nothing but junk in Xiao Hongchen's view.
But for Shrek Academy, these items were rare and valuable.
Especially He Caitou and Huo Yuhao, whose eyes were practically glued to the stage.
Although Huo Yuhao was a spiritual-type Spirit Master, he also studied spirit tools and was particularly interested in rare metals and tools with special internal structures.
And so, whenever Shrek showed interest and prepared to bid, that maddening voice would always sound at exactly the wrong moment.
"Three thousand."
"Five thousand."
"Ten thousand…"
Jing Hongchen was like a master manipulator of the market.
He always raised the price precisely when Xuan Zi was nearing his psychological limit—pushing it just high enough to hurt, yet forcing him to follow.
And once Xuan Zi clenched his teeth and called out the next price, Jing Hongchen would decisively stop, quietly retreating with his goal achieved.
The entire sequence was smooth and flawless.
In less than half an hour, Xuan Zi had already won four or five spirit tools and several pieces of rare metal.
But the price paid was double—sometimes triple—the normal market value.
No matter how much Xuan Zi tried to act wealthy, the hand holding the bidding paddle began to tremble slightly.
What kind of auction was this?
This was outright carving flesh off his body!
"That old bastard…"
Xuan Zi cursed viciously in his heart.
"If he ever falls into my hands, I'll refine every bit of fat on him into spirit-tool oil!"
Finally—
As item after item was auctioned off, the atmosphere reached a climax.
The auctioneer's cheeks were slightly flushed, clearly excited by the staggering turnover tonight. She took a deep breath, her tone becoming mysterious.
"Honored guests, the next item is a very special one."
"Its history spans over three thousand years. It was once the masterpiece of a Ninth-Rank Soul Engineer, and it is also a famous… Ranked Carving Knife in the Soul Engineer world."
At the words "Ranked Carving Knife," Jing Hongchen—who had been mildly bored—sharpened his gaze instantly.
Even Liu Yuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
It's here.
Finally.
The curtain on the stage was drawn back, revealing an exquisite crystal display stand.
Floating at its center was a pitch-black carving knife.
The blade was slender, its handle engraved with a grotesque ghostly face. Though the blade was still sheathed, it faintly emitted a chilling, heart-palpitating aura—and a trace of malevolent energy.
"This knife is called the Spirit Devouring Carving Knife," the auctioneer announced solemnly.
"Although it ranks ninety-ninth on the Carving Knife List, it is… also a cursed carving knife."
"It is said that every Soul Engineer who has owned it met a grim fate—most died violently or went mad. Therefore, before bidding, I must remind everyone: while this item is powerful, the risk is immense."
"Starting price—one hundred thousand gold coins!"
"Hiss—"
Cold breaths were drawn throughout the hall.
A cursed blade that harmed its owner, and it still started at one hundred thousand gold coins?
That was insane.
But inside Shrek Academy's booth—
Huo Yuhao stared fixedly at the Spirit Devouring Carving Knife, his eyes blazing with unprecedented desire.
Moments ago, Electrolux inside him had suddenly awakened and told him that this knife contained an enormous amount of life energy—an unparalleled treasure capable of repairing his Sea of Consciousness and even reconstructing his Divine Sense!
"Elder Xuan!"
Huo Yuhao suddenly turned toward Xuan Zi, his voice urgent.
"This carving knife… I want it!"
"This…"
Xuan Zi frowned deeply as he looked at the ominous blade.
One hundred thousand gold coins—that was no small sum.
After being repeatedly fleeced by Jing Hongchen earlier, his private reserves had already shrunk considerably.
And this thing had such a terrible reputation—what if it harmed the child?
"Yuhao, this item is too sinister, and the price—"
He was just about to persuade him or at least think it over—
When suddenly,
That nightmare-like voice from the neighboring booth rang out once again.
And this time, it was no longer lazy or playful, but carried unquestionable dominance and resolve:
"Two hundred thousand."
No probing.
No buildup.
Jing Hongchen directly doubled the price.
Dead silence swept the entire auction hall.
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